These popular SUVs from the 2020 to 2023 model years may have a lower front bumper that could detatch due to minor pressure during normal operation
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Toyota is recalling three-quarters of a million Highlander and Highlander Hybrid SUVs. The vehicles in question might have a front bumper that could come off too easily and subsequently become a road hazard. The automaker is promising a fix for all 751,000 affected units in the coming weeks.
Toyota released its own statement about the recall today ahead of any public filing with the NHTSA. In it, it says that the approximately 751,000 units span from the 2020 model year through 2023. Both the gas-only Highlander and the Highlander Hybrid are part of the recall.
Affected vehicles feature a resin front lower bumper cover that uses mounting tabs to keep it in place. Toyota says that “a minor impact” can cause those tabs to come off and in that case, the lower front bumper could come off altogether. Clearly, an entire front bumper assembly (even if it is just the lower section) lying in the street isn’t the safest thing.
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To that end, Toyota wants to inspect all affected vehicles for the potential issue. It says in cases where it finds damage that it’ll replace the bumper cover(s) as needed and install retention hardware. Highlander models without any observable damage will still get the retention hardware as a safety precaution.
As Toyota came ahead of the NHTSA filing, details on how exactly the automaker found this issue aren’t available. It also didn’t confirm whether or not it had any field reports of this issue, dealt with any warranty claims over it, or if it knows of any injuries related to it.
Toyota says that it’ll inform affected owners by late December. Until then, owners will have to contact their dealer or wait for public documents to appear at NHTSA.gov to determine if their personal vehicle is included in the recall.
